Materials:
Bulky boucle yarn (choose one that will fit the gauge)
US Size 13 needles
Pattern:
Using Size 13 dpns (see note after the pattern) and bulky boucle yarn
I used Brunswick's "Fleece Boucle" which I got from Quanah's mommy, cast
on 40 stitches.
Place marker at beginning of round and knit 3".
Next Round: *K3, Inc. 1 in next stitch. Keep doing this until you have 80 stitches on your needles. Knit the next two rounds straight across (no increases).
Now you will start to decrease:
Round 1: K7, K2tog. Repeat till end of round.
Round 2 and all even rounds: K across.
Round 3: K6, K2tog. Repeat till end of round.
Round 5: K5, K2tog. Repeat till end of round
See what's happening here? You will keep decreasing one extra stitch every odd round, until you have completed K1, K2tog.
Then, next round (even round) K across.
Last round: K2tog.
Pull tapestry needle through remaining stitches and finish off.
This hat looks somewhat like a mushroom in that it poofs out after the 3" border. You can make it a bit fuller by starting your increasing rounds with K8, K2tog, which I have done too, and both ways works out well.
NOTE RE NEEDLES: As far as I can tell Brittany is the only ones that make size 13 dpns. However, I have also gone to the hardware store and, taking along my needle gauge, have purchased one dowel of approximate size for $.39, had it cut down, and sharpened in a pencil sharpener. Take some sand paper and then just smooth out the wood. Works well. I have also used (in desperation) 2 pencils tied together by rubber bands to achieve the correct dimensions!